Popularity of the Monarchy in Sweden

[Shelo]

Interesting how public expectations have changed in less than 100 years. Not so long ago, it was normal (and maybe even acceptable?) for a King to have a few mistresses. Now it is a reason for a King to abdicate. Just interesting how the tide of public opinion has changed on this issue.

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by Shelo

Interesting how public expectations have changed in less than 100 years. Not so long ago, it was normal (and maybe even acceptable?) for a King to have a few mistresses. Now it is a reason for a King to abdicate. Just interesting how the tide of public opinion has changed on this issue.

Given the high divorce rates it also reflects just how hypocritical the public can be.

[Meraude]

Originally Posted by Shelo

Interesting how public expectations have changed in less than 100 years. Not so long ago, it was normal (and maybe even acceptable?) for a King to have a few mistresses. Now it is a reason for a King to abdicate. Just interesting how the tide of public opinion has changed on this issue.

I don't think the affairs are the reason for the demand for the king to abdicate, it's rather the fact that one of the men who claims that he have provided the king and his friends with female company is a known mobster, which raises the question if the women were there of their own free will or if they were forced or prostitutes. About the same time as these accusations against the king were made, there was also trials against some well-known men with high social positions who had sexually abused young women, some of them under-aged, and even if the king wasn't involved in that dirty business, even the slightest suspicion that a mobster were in some way connected to the king and his affairs cast a dark shadow over him, that he was using the women he was involved with.

Had the king had a few mistresses from the same social circles that he moves in and kept it discreet I doubt there would have been any demands for an abdication, it's the shadiness of it all that casts doubt over the king's character and his suitability as a monarch.

[Shelo]

Thanks for the clarification. This certainly changes the story.

[LadyFinn]

At Expressen's program "Pihlblad & Svensson" they told about a new research made by Novus.
The people were asked, who is "a very good or good ambassador" for Sweden

The results:
Crown princess Victoria 82 % of the people think that Victoria is a very good or good ambassador
Prince Daniel 63 %
Queen Silvia 59 %
King Carl Gustaf 54 %
Prince Carl Philip 39 %
Princess Madeleine 32 %
Sofia Hellqvist 11 %
Chris O'Neill 6 %

They looked Madeleine and Chris a little closer.
26 % of the people think that Madeleine is "a very bad or bad" ambassador for Sweden
35 % of the people think that Chris is "a very bad or bad" ambassador for Sweden
Pihlblad & Svensson - Anna Serner och Johan T Lindwall | Pihlblad & Svensson | Politik

[Marengo]

Did they also measure how many people think that Sofia Hellqvist will be a bad- very bad ambassador for Sweden?

[Nice Nofret]

I understand, that Chris O'N doesnt even wish to be an ambassador for Sweden; he want's to stay a foreign and private citizen who happend to marry Madeleine. That's all.

Like others did befor him. No titel, no part-time-working-royal-duties.. nothing of that sort. They will not live in Sweden ..
So I basically can't see, why he is included in that list.

As to Sophia - that's quite another matter! And it show's that most people share the feeling, that a nude model won't do.

[ricarda]

The most interesting detail for me is that Queen Silvia only has 59%, 5% more than her "unpopular" husband. In Germany she is always presented as extremely popular and the saviour of the Swedish monarchy (well, perhaps she was in the 70ies and by giving birth to Victoria)

I don't see why Sofia and Chris are included at all. She is not yet engaged and he made it clear he will continue his former life.

[LadyFinn]

Originally Posted by ricarda

I don't see why Sofia and Chris are included at all. She is not yet engaged and he made it clear he will continue his former life.

Perhaps they wanted to know how the people see Sofia and Chris, what is their opinion of the two of them.

[xenobia]

I think it's also very interesting that prince Daniel is more popular than the queen. If this poll had been taken in 2009, his numbers would have been quite low. IMO, his love for Victoria and their daughter, along with his hard work and dedication and support, has paid off. Maybe the other young royals should study (and follow) his example more closely.

[ricarda]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Perhaps they wanted to know how the people see Sofia and Chris, what is their opinion of the two of them.

Still, the question should not be: Who is a good ambassador for Sweden? Since they are not representing Sweden, even those who like them will probably answer with: No.

And opinions can change. Marie of Denmark was not as popular in 2007 as she is now.

[LadyFinn]

Historian and Victoria's and Madeleine's former teacher Herman Lindqvist today in Aftonbladet:

Royal weddings, and births and deaths of the royal family are events that usually increase support for the monarchy. The latest poll shows that only 57 percent of the Swedish people support the monarchy and it's a sinking support. Twenty-five years ago, the support was almost ninety percent...
...The majority of members of the Swedish Parliament, even the bourgeois, are against the monarchy, but they do nothing about it as long as their voters want to keep the king... ...For each new marriage where royalty marries a non-royal tarnishes the royal splendor. The royals are becoming increasingly common. They marry with ordinary people and get regular children attending regular schools and select common occupations... ... Eventually, more and more will ask: What is this? What are we doing? Why should we stand and bow to this privileged family with anything less royal blood in his veins. Isn´t it time that we ourselves, in democratic elections, must decide who will be our head of state? Anyone selected for other qualifications than that he happens to be conceived in a royal bedchamber.
This critical point may already happen in about 10 years. But the monarchy can be saved for at least 30 years ahead due to the king himself. By that he abdicates voluntarily.
This would make Victoria the regent and Estelle crown princess. The change would create new energy and bring life to the monarchy and generate positive publicity unprecedentedly. Victoria is, rightly, the most popular of the royal family, and she has already shown herself perfectly capable of managing the work with the splendor and charm. Not since Gustaf VI Adolf became king at the age of sixty-eight, a Swedish monarch has been so well prepared and fit for her role as Victoria. King's voluntary abdication would also give him more positive publicity and popular support than he has had during his 40 years as a ruler.
Not one Bernadotte has resigned voluntarily. They have all been very old on the throne and that's probably the king also plans to do. But he has the motto: "For Sweden at the time." Voluntary departure would be the absolute best for Sweden and Swedish monarchy. It requires just a little royal courage...
Bröllopet försvagar monarkin Herman Lindqvist Kolumnister Nyheter Aftonbladet

[tamta]

A good article overall, but it fails to get straight some things. Scandinavian monarchies have for many decades been considered less segregated, living more ordinary lives, marrying commoners etc, which has only made them more popular in the eyes of the respective publics. It has been a Scandinavian innovation over the last decades, in large repsect, to successfully couple royalty, with all the hereditiary privilege it instantly stands for, with common lifestyle. So I don't think that is a problem.

On the other hand, the nearly 60% popularity of the monarchy -if it is so- and the surprisingly low rates of some of its protagonists -I'm surprised by the low rates of the reigning couple and Madeleine- are indeed a cause of alarm. Most likely these are due to all that has been said and written about the king in the recent years. I'm particularly stricken by what appears to have been the strong propensity of the press and maybe even some in politics to play this stuff exceedingly, -and certainly much more than the actual substance of those rumours. It shows that there is a strong section of Swedish establishment and opinion makers who are willing and capable to openly rival the monarchy at anytime -unlike what is the case, for example, in Britain.
In general, I don't thing they'd be going anywhere anytime soon; but there's alot to address..

[LadyFinn]

Aftonbladet writes about a new research done by the SOM Institute: The Swedes still have a very low confidence in the royal family. On a scale of minus 100 to plus 100 the confidence is now as low as plus five.
- It is very low and the trend is downward, says Lennart Nilsson, associate professor and senior researcher at the SOM Institute.
Despite the low confidence, only a fifth of the population wants to abolish the monarchy. Nilsson says that the scrutiny has become much more critical, which is presumably also spilled over to the Swedes' attitude to the court.
Roger Lundgren, chief editor of Kungliga magasinet, is critical to how the Swedish journalists write about the royal family. You don't want to report on what they are working with. The Queen has raised over half a billion for Childhood, the rest of the world knows that. But you can't tell it in the Swedish media, because then you are sucking up to the royal family.
Although the royal family doesn't go home with the Swedes, Crown Princess Victoria definitely does. Her popularity is sky high, partly because we think she handles her duties, says Nilsson, the wedding with Prince Daniel was also positive. She stood up and wanted to marry him and it has brought the respect of the people. Lundgren truly appreciates the Crown Princess: She is the best human being in the world. What you see is what you get, as well. She is honest, happy and has tremendous poise. Sweden will never become a republic as long as Victoria is there.
Bred skepsis mot kungahuset Nyheter Aftonbladet

[An Ard Ri]

Has the King's Jubilee increased support for the Swedish Monarchy?

[tamta]

Ι think that will be in a few years from now...

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by tamta

Ι think that will be in a few years from now...

The King's jubilee is this year,2013 marking 40 years since he became King of Sweden.

[tamta]

Ok, sorry..
Then the question stands -how has it, if at all, impacted the image and popularity of the monarchy in Sweden..?

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

The King's jubilee is this year,2013 marking 40 years since he became King of Sweden.

[BritishRoyalist]

How popular is the Swedish Monarchy/ Royal Family Right now? Is there any websites where you can see current and old surveys/polls and data taken on The Swedish Monarchy like the British Monarchy?

[LadyFinn]

Here is the SOM-institute's research and rapport "The Status of the Monarchy in Sweden and confidence in the royal family in 1976, 1995-2012", published this spring (only in swedish)
http://www.som.gu.se/digitalAssets/1...e-2012_pdf.pdf